Formulation and Drug Delivery

A new year, all things being equal, is a time of looking to the future with positive intent and traditional bonhomie. At the very least, it suggests new beginnings. As we enter 2009, however, the world is moving into a major recession and things are far from equal.

Hot-melt extrusion offers many advantages compared with conventional solid dosage form manufacturing, and has consequently received considerable attention from both the pharmaceutical industry and academia as a novel drug delivery technology. The possibility of forming solid dispersions with improved bioavailability renders hot-melt extrusion an excellent alternative to other conventionally employed techniques.

Reducing ecological footprint and achieving more sustainable production of pharmaceuticals could help create a better future.

Also, Crucell and DSM announce deals with GSK, Talecris, and CSL; Nobel Prize winner Luc Montagnier joins Viral Genetics; more...

Also, BASF opens lab in Mumbai; Evotek president and CEO to resign; more...

At its annual business briefing held last week, Merck & Co. outlined its short- and long-term strategy for growth. Its strategy is focused on increased penetration in emerging markets, the establishment of a business for developing follow-on biologics or biosimilars, and a new commercial model for product life-cycle management.

Packaging a drug in a prefilled syringe may help extend a product's patent and distinguish it from competing products.

Also, NicOx and DSM make manufacture and supply pact for naproxcinod drug substance; NovaRx appointed Norrie Russell president and COO; more...

FDA's Final Rule titled "Amendments to the Current Good Manufacturing Practice Regulations for Finished Pharmaceuticals" takes effect Monday, Dec. 8, 2008.

Also, AstraZeneca announces changes to its supply chain operations; Christian Velmer appointed head of Wyeth Canada; More...

The European Commission (EC) published a preliminary report stating that competition in the pharmaceutical industry does not work as well as it should.

The authors evaluated the effect of polymer composition on the drug-release profile and the effect of storage conditions on dissolution characteristics.

The past year saw major acquisitions attempted, completed, rejected, and stalled.

Readers provide insight into the best companies to work for as well as the ups and downs of their jobs.

China's quality approach to domestic versus exported products seems to be a lose-lose situation.

A recent Pharmaceutical Technology survey examined the level, sources, and reasons behind innovation in drug development and manufacturing. This article contains bonus online-exclusive material.

The authors review the current regulatory framework for the selection of drug substance starting materials.

Results from Pharmaceutical Technology's Annual Employment Survey.

Pharmaceutical Technology is pleased to recognize the winners of its Innovations in Pharma Science Awards.

Microcrystalline cellulose is the main excipient used in the industrial manufacture of pellets by extrusion/spheronization, but pellets containing this spheronizing aid do not readily disintegrate and are expensive.

Research shows that both drug prescription and alcohol consumption increase within the elderly population. It is, therefore, necessary to fully understand the impact of alcohol consumption on solid oral dosage forms, especially extended release formulations.

Hundreds of pharma–biotech deals have been announced during 2008 and many of these probably began at biopartnering conferences. Susan Aldridge examines some of this year's big buyouts and mergers.

Although realized in 1983, ASTM's standrad test method for determining bacterial retention of membrane filters used for liquid filtration is still hugely beneficial to today's pharmaceutical industry.

Also, Johnson & Johnson will acquire Omrix Biopharmaceuticals for $438 million; Charles River Laboratories promoted Foster Jordan to corporate senior VP of endotoxin and microbial detection products; more...

Companies at the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scieintists (AAPS) unveiled technologies, expansion plans, and services for formulation development, manufacturing, and drug delivery at the AAPS Annual Meeting and Exposition held in Atlanta last week.